What do you think?
Rate this book
Midnight Sun
This wasn’t the adventure she’d signed up for…
A sexy boss, a rough crossing, and pirates—all Brylie Winston wanted was a job to help her earn money to buy her own restaurant. She hopes to earn it by working as a chef on a cruise to Antarctica. But she’s slept with her boss, which throws her off-balance even more than the rough seas and warnings of pirates in the area. And he’s determined to have a repeat performance…
Bad boy former snowboarder Marcus Devlin is running from his reputation, sent to learn the family business after decking a senator’s son and making the papers. So maybe he indulged in a last-minute fling before boarding his family’s cruise ship to Antarctica. Perhaps Fate is showing him that wasn’t so bad—the gorgeous redhead who snuck out of his bed is on the cruise. She’ll be a lovely distraction during his exile.
But when modern-day pirates take over the ship, his instinct is to protect her and the other passengers. But what does a spoiled rich boy know about saving people’s lives?
227 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 6, 2011
99 people are currently reading
1029 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
August 8, 2011
Midnight Sun is the latest contemporary romantic suspense release by M. J. Fredrick. Midnight Sun starts in a deceptively simple manner and lulls the reader into a false sense of security before the adventure aspect of the novel kick starts with a bang and refuses to let up until towards the very end. The story starts off with Brylie Winston leaving the hotel room in Hobart, Australia where she spends the night with a man for the first time in a year and half, always paying heed to the caution that rules her life until she meets the charming Marcus who manages to practically knock her proverbial socks off with his sheer charm and sexuality.
Come morning, Brylie more than regrets succumbing to Marcus’s well-played seduction which had sent her senses spiraling as she finds out that Marcus is none other than her boss and the youngest son of the Delvins who owns and operates the ice breaker turned cruise liner on which Brylie acts as head chef. For Marcus, the cruise trip to Antarctica is his way of saving face after his latest scandal and when he finds out that the red head who rocked his world the night before works for him, things start looking up for Marcus until he finds out that Brylie has no intention of indulging in a repeat performance.
However, Marcus is not one to give up and before long, Brylie finds her defenses crumbling in the face of Marcus’s true personality that comes to light as they spend time together. But before their purely sexual acquaintance can go any further, the cruise liner comes under attack by pirates who are willing to do anything to see that their demands are met. Its by pure luck that Marcus and Brylie manage to hide and outwit their captors until Marcus is forced to give himself up, sacrificing himself for the rest of the passengers on board for whom he feels responsible. Its the sheer bravery and quick thinking on both Brylie and Marcus’s part that eventually saves the day and not a minute too late at that.
Midnight Sun is a well rounded addition to M. J. Fredrick’s already impressive collection of romantic suspense novels. This one offers a hero who is not well versed in the art of defense and guns and the whole lot but still manages to think on his feet and tackle the problems they face, even though his family thinks of Marcus as someone who will never take responsibility seriously. Marcus suffers from “itchy-feet-syndrome” and it is only when it comes to Brylie and the hair raising couple of days that they go through that Marcus finds his anchor in life. It is the situation that both Brylie and Marcus finds themselves in that eventually creates the unbreakable bonds of intimacy which otherwise may not have happened.
Brylie is a trademark M. J. Fredrick heroine. Smart, capable, independent and yet vulnerable because of her past, Brylie is a heroine worth admiring as she on many occasions proves herself beyond capable in handling a chaotic situation with both feet planted firmly on the ground. Though Brylie tries hard not to fall for Marcus, she is no match for his arousing kisses and touches that at the same time serves as the healing balm to soothe her wounded heart and pride. And Marcus in turn finds in Brylie a reason to strive to be more and give love and commitment a shot in his otherwise sporadic existence.
Filled with adrenaline pumping moments and those sensually stirring scenes of passion that never fails to evoke all the right kind of emotions, Midnight Sun is recommended for those who love romantic suspense in unusual settings. And believe me, Antarctica is as unusual as it gets!
Rating=4/5
Original review posted on MBR's Realm of Romance
Come morning, Brylie more than regrets succumbing to Marcus’s well-played seduction which had sent her senses spiraling as she finds out that Marcus is none other than her boss and the youngest son of the Delvins who owns and operates the ice breaker turned cruise liner on which Brylie acts as head chef. For Marcus, the cruise trip to Antarctica is his way of saving face after his latest scandal and when he finds out that the red head who rocked his world the night before works for him, things start looking up for Marcus until he finds out that Brylie has no intention of indulging in a repeat performance.
However, Marcus is not one to give up and before long, Brylie finds her defenses crumbling in the face of Marcus’s true personality that comes to light as they spend time together. But before their purely sexual acquaintance can go any further, the cruise liner comes under attack by pirates who are willing to do anything to see that their demands are met. Its by pure luck that Marcus and Brylie manage to hide and outwit their captors until Marcus is forced to give himself up, sacrificing himself for the rest of the passengers on board for whom he feels responsible. Its the sheer bravery and quick thinking on both Brylie and Marcus’s part that eventually saves the day and not a minute too late at that.
Midnight Sun is a well rounded addition to M. J. Fredrick’s already impressive collection of romantic suspense novels. This one offers a hero who is not well versed in the art of defense and guns and the whole lot but still manages to think on his feet and tackle the problems they face, even though his family thinks of Marcus as someone who will never take responsibility seriously. Marcus suffers from “itchy-feet-syndrome” and it is only when it comes to Brylie and the hair raising couple of days that they go through that Marcus finds his anchor in life. It is the situation that both Brylie and Marcus finds themselves in that eventually creates the unbreakable bonds of intimacy which otherwise may not have happened.
Brylie is a trademark M. J. Fredrick heroine. Smart, capable, independent and yet vulnerable because of her past, Brylie is a heroine worth admiring as she on many occasions proves herself beyond capable in handling a chaotic situation with both feet planted firmly on the ground. Though Brylie tries hard not to fall for Marcus, she is no match for his arousing kisses and touches that at the same time serves as the healing balm to soothe her wounded heart and pride. And Marcus in turn finds in Brylie a reason to strive to be more and give love and commitment a shot in his otherwise sporadic existence.
Filled with adrenaline pumping moments and those sensually stirring scenes of passion that never fails to evoke all the right kind of emotions, Midnight Sun is recommended for those who love romantic suspense in unusual settings. And believe me, Antarctica is as unusual as it gets!
Rating=4/5
Original review posted on MBR's Realm of Romance
May 7, 2012
Quite honestly, it's a cheesy book... but it really does read like the sort of cut-rate action movie that Steven Seagal would star in (and parts did remind me slightly of his Under Siege movie).
Brylie is the chef on a cruise ship bound for Antarctica. Her dad's the captain, which makes things a bit awkward when she accidentally sleeps with the owner of the ship. She thought it was a one night stand... Marcus Devlin is the habitually short-tempered screw up of the Devlin clan. He's got money beyond belief and a playboy attitude. The family hopes some time aboard the ship will give his life some direction, but the only direction he wants to take is straight to Brylie's bed. When pirates strike, things start getting interesting. Brylie and Marcus don't know much about thwarting the pirates, but they'll do what they can to protect the people on board while irritating the pirates at every turn.
It's cheesy, but that's not a bad thing. While there are some tropes (crawling around through the ventilation shafts?) the action was vividly described. Brylie and Marcus' chemistry is explosive, and even though Marcus has no military or even security background, he makes a mostly-believable character.
It was a great afternoon beach read.
Brylie is the chef on a cruise ship bound for Antarctica. Her dad's the captain, which makes things a bit awkward when she accidentally sleeps with the owner of the ship. She thought it was a one night stand... Marcus Devlin is the habitually short-tempered screw up of the Devlin clan. He's got money beyond belief and a playboy attitude. The family hopes some time aboard the ship will give his life some direction, but the only direction he wants to take is straight to Brylie's bed. When pirates strike, things start getting interesting. Brylie and Marcus don't know much about thwarting the pirates, but they'll do what they can to protect the people on board while irritating the pirates at every turn.
It's cheesy, but that's not a bad thing. While there are some tropes (crawling around through the ventilation shafts?) the action was vividly described. Brylie and Marcus' chemistry is explosive, and even though Marcus has no military or even security background, he makes a mostly-believable character.
It was a great afternoon beach read.
August 21, 2011
Ever do something one night, and regret it the next day?
From the moment Marcus wakes up to find Brylie gone, he misses her. And from the moment later in the day when Brylie discovers hottie Marcus--her hook-up from the night before--is actually her boss, she knows this voyage is going to be trouble. Brylie’s got more reason than “office politics” to be wary of a relationship with a silver-spooned snowboarder who has the power to fire her from her job as head chef aboard a tourist ship to Antarctica. When Marcus’s family sent him cruising on one of their ships to keep him out of trouble, they had no idea the danger they’d sentenced him to—or that their “bad boy” would end up a hero.
Cruise ships and conflict, pirates and private pasts, tension and tempestuous seas… MJ Fredrick grabs with an action-packed plot, relatable characters, sizzling hot romance, and plenty of suspense--proof positive that “self published” is not synonymous with shoddy fiction.
From the moment Marcus wakes up to find Brylie gone, he misses her. And from the moment later in the day when Brylie discovers hottie Marcus--her hook-up from the night before--is actually her boss, she knows this voyage is going to be trouble. Brylie’s got more reason than “office politics” to be wary of a relationship with a silver-spooned snowboarder who has the power to fire her from her job as head chef aboard a tourist ship to Antarctica. When Marcus’s family sent him cruising on one of their ships to keep him out of trouble, they had no idea the danger they’d sentenced him to—or that their “bad boy” would end up a hero.
Cruise ships and conflict, pirates and private pasts, tension and tempestuous seas… MJ Fredrick grabs with an action-packed plot, relatable characters, sizzling hot romance, and plenty of suspense--proof positive that “self published” is not synonymous with shoddy fiction.
January 12, 2012
Brylie Winston and Marcus Devlin, two strangers in the night that pass said night in a bout of wild passionate sex. Brylie sneaks out while Marcus is asleep and goes to her job as chef on a cruise ship heading to Antarctica. Marcus wakes up and instead of being relieved that Brylie is gone, he decides he needs to find her. Only first he needs to show up for a cruise (run by his family) to Antarctica, his family’s idea of punishment for doing something stupid. To his surprise, Brylie is his employee. They set off and the excitement begins.
This was a decent story with great writing, but I just couldn’t like the two main characters. I liked Brylie more than Marcus, but even she ticked me off by letting her hormones rule her head in regards to Marcus. Marcus is one of those guys I can’t stand, he’s rich and selfish, pushy and obnoxious and doesn’t take ‘No’ for an answer. Brylie was a wimp who let him walk all over her.
When pirates attack the cruise ship he redeems himself a bit by being a quick thinker, but then he ruins it by being Mister I’m-in-Charge-even-though-I’m-less-than-useless-because-I’m-a-spoiled-rich-ass. Gah! The danger and life-threatening situation should’ve changed him at least a little bit, but by the end he was still the same jerk, in my opinion. I have no respect for Brylie for sticking with her rich loser at the end.
Brylie and Marcus were like little pebbles stuck in my shoe while hiking the Grand Canyon. The view is awesome, but the pebbles are so annoying it takes away from the splendor. The story Midnight Sun was awesome, but Brylie and Marcus were annoying.
*The author provided a copy of this book for me to review. Disclaimer is on my blog.
This was a decent story with great writing, but I just couldn’t like the two main characters. I liked Brylie more than Marcus, but even she ticked me off by letting her hormones rule her head in regards to Marcus. Marcus is one of those guys I can’t stand, he’s rich and selfish, pushy and obnoxious and doesn’t take ‘No’ for an answer. Brylie was a wimp who let him walk all over her.
When pirates attack the cruise ship he redeems himself a bit by being a quick thinker, but then he ruins it by being Mister I’m-in-Charge-even-though-I’m-less-than-useless-because-I’m-a-spoiled-rich-ass. Gah! The danger and life-threatening situation should’ve changed him at least a little bit, but by the end he was still the same jerk, in my opinion. I have no respect for Brylie for sticking with her rich loser at the end.
Brylie and Marcus were like little pebbles stuck in my shoe while hiking the Grand Canyon. The view is awesome, but the pebbles are so annoying it takes away from the splendor. The story Midnight Sun was awesome, but Brylie and Marcus were annoying.
*The author provided a copy of this book for me to review. Disclaimer is on my blog.
May 7, 2012
Love, exciting and new
Come Aboard. We're expecting you.
Love -- life's sweetest reward.
Let it flow, it floats back to you.
Love Boat soon will be making another run
The Love Boat promises something for everyone
Set a course for adventure,
Your mind on a new romance.
A one-night stand -- that was all it was supposed to be! With no plans for a repeat performance, she slips out of his hotel room before dawn. So how and why is he now standing on deck of the Ice Queen as she boards the cruise ship for work?
Avoiding the awkward “morning-after” isn’t going away. Brylie Winston is the chef; her dad’s the Captain, and her one-night stand, Marcus Devlin, is the owner of the cruise ship line and her boss. Can it get any more complicated? You bet!
Author MJ Fredrick welcomes you aboard for a cruise to Antarctica with promises of high-sea adventure that includes scurvy pirates, stormy seas, a plane crash, a helicopter crash, and, oh yes, some mighty fine romance. All this adds up to a fast-paced, action-filled fun and highly entertaining voyage.
You’ll want to book your passage early – this is a trip you don’t want to miss!
Come Aboard. We're expecting you.
Love -- life's sweetest reward.
Let it flow, it floats back to you.
Love Boat soon will be making another run
The Love Boat promises something for everyone
Set a course for adventure,
Your mind on a new romance.
A one-night stand -- that was all it was supposed to be! With no plans for a repeat performance, she slips out of his hotel room before dawn. So how and why is he now standing on deck of the Ice Queen as she boards the cruise ship for work?
Avoiding the awkward “morning-after” isn’t going away. Brylie Winston is the chef; her dad’s the Captain, and her one-night stand, Marcus Devlin, is the owner of the cruise ship line and her boss. Can it get any more complicated? You bet!
Author MJ Fredrick welcomes you aboard for a cruise to Antarctica with promises of high-sea adventure that includes scurvy pirates, stormy seas, a plane crash, a helicopter crash, and, oh yes, some mighty fine romance. All this adds up to a fast-paced, action-filled fun and highly entertaining voyage.
You’ll want to book your passage early – this is a trip you don’t want to miss!
July 22, 2011
I loved this book! Once I started, it was difficult for me to put down. I've read so many romance books that after a while, many of them seem the same: same plot rehashed, same story twists, same predictability, etc. Happily, that was NOT the case with this book! Ms. Fredrick comes up with the most interesting plots that have not been over-done. I mean, how many romances set in Antarctica have you read??? This book has it all: sexy romance, modern day pirates, action, and adventure! I've read 4 books by Ms. Fredrick so far this year. I really love her writing style. She knows how to write a great romance/adventure. If you are on the fence about reading this book, don't be! : )
May 2, 2012
Another typical free iBook. This one was however better written and the storyline was different to other books
May 26, 2013
3.5 This kinda reminded me of a made for TV movie.
March 1, 2020
Brylie Winston and Marcus Devlin, two strangers in the night that pass said night in a bout of wild passionate sex. Brylie sneaks out while Marcus is asleep and goes to her job as chef on a cruise ship heading to Antarctica. Marcus wakes up and instead of being relieved that Brylie is gone, he decides he needs to find her. Only first he needs to show up for a cruise to Antarctica, his family’s idea of punishment for doing something stupid. To his surprise, Brylie is his employee. They set off and the excitement begins.
Marcus wakes up to find Brylie gone. He misses her. Later in the day when Brylie discovers hottie Marcus--her hook-up from the night before--is actually her boss, she knows this voyage is going to be trouble. Brylie’s got more reason than office politics to be wary of a relationship with a silver-spooned snowboarder who has the power to fire her from her job as head chef aboard a tourist ship to Antarctica. When Marcus’s family sent him cruising on one of their ships to keep him out of trouble, they had no idea the danger they’d sentenced him to.
I did not care for the characters at all. Marcus seemed like your typical rich guy.
Marcus wakes up to find Brylie gone. He misses her. Later in the day when Brylie discovers hottie Marcus--her hook-up from the night before--is actually her boss, she knows this voyage is going to be trouble. Brylie’s got more reason than office politics to be wary of a relationship with a silver-spooned snowboarder who has the power to fire her from her job as head chef aboard a tourist ship to Antarctica. When Marcus’s family sent him cruising on one of their ships to keep him out of trouble, they had no idea the danger they’d sentenced him to.
I did not care for the characters at all. Marcus seemed like your typical rich guy.
February 3, 2022
DNF at 11%. Poorly paced and neither of the main characters have any dimensions to them. Skip this one.
December 6, 2011
A wonderful story full of passion, suspense and action - even with a few pirates thrown in!
I love the way it started with Brylie running out on Marcus and I imagined that the story was going to see him try and track her down - I didn’t imagine that she was going to be the head chef on the boat owned by his family that they have sent him on to try to keep him from getting into trouble. Unfortunately for Marcus, trouble was on it’s was to find him.
I love the first introductory scenes especially when Marcus finds out that Brylie is also the Captains daughter! You can see that there is going to be some really great scenes between them, but I’d never of guessed the amount of action that was about to unfold.
I don’t want to give all the details away but I will say that the action that came as the pirates took over was great, Marcus’s quick thinking managed to keep himself and Brylie out of harms way - but for how long? I enjoyed the early scenes where they were struggling at trying to follow orders from each other as they are both headstrong, independent individuals.
I read this virtually all in one sitting as it’s fast pace and strong storyline just swept me along and I wanted to find out how it ended. I really enjoyed the different genres in this book and think that the author did wonderfully blending them together so well. For me it’s definitely a Must Read
I love the way it started with Brylie running out on Marcus and I imagined that the story was going to see him try and track her down - I didn’t imagine that she was going to be the head chef on the boat owned by his family that they have sent him on to try to keep him from getting into trouble. Unfortunately for Marcus, trouble was on it’s was to find him.
I love the first introductory scenes especially when Marcus finds out that Brylie is also the Captains daughter! You can see that there is going to be some really great scenes between them, but I’d never of guessed the amount of action that was about to unfold.
I don’t want to give all the details away but I will say that the action that came as the pirates took over was great, Marcus’s quick thinking managed to keep himself and Brylie out of harms way - but for how long? I enjoyed the early scenes where they were struggling at trying to follow orders from each other as they are both headstrong, independent individuals.
I read this virtually all in one sitting as it’s fast pace and strong storyline just swept me along and I wanted to find out how it ended. I really enjoyed the different genres in this book and think that the author did wonderfully blending them together so well. For me it’s definitely a Must Read
May 14, 2012
Ok. So I read this book in two days because it was a nice story line and had quiet a bit of suspense for a romance novel. HOWEVER, whoever published it needs to hire better proof readers. It was very distracting to stop and re-read a sentence because of a typo. I would have given this book either 4 or 5 stars because I really did enjoy it, but the typo problems really distracted me, taking away from the whole reading experience.
May 1, 2012
This book was entertaining but not really anything more. It is a quick and easy read. The characters are likable. I found it entertaining but I wanted more out of it. I felt like the author told me how the characters were feeling and didn't show me.
All in all it was a well written book that kept me entertained. It was quick and easy.
All in all it was a well written book that kept me entertained. It was quick and easy.
May 10, 2012
This would make a good movie. Also, the description of this book should include that the entire book is based on pirates that take hostage a cruise ship. There is a lot of action and twists, but the two main characters "need to survive" is a main theme in the plot. A different story from what I was expecting, but it kept my attention till the end.
May 18, 2012
This is a Kindle free book that I randomly downloaded when I was playing with my new Fire. To be honest, I had low expectations. So I was happy to get sucked into the plot and find myself really enjoying the story. I found a lot of poor editing (stupid typos) and I thought it ended rather abruptly, but overall, I quite liked it :)
September 16, 2011
This was a really good read. The whole thing reminded me of "Die Hard", but where the romance is a main focus, as well as the action. It's a fun read, and the tension during the action scenes was well written. Would recommend.
May 14, 2012
3.5*
Grade B/B-
Over enjoyable short romantic suspense with likable characters and interesting suspense plot. A few unbelievable plot choices hold it back from being really great, but it's definitely worth reading. I've enjoyed everything I've read by this author so far.
Grade B/B-
Over enjoyable short romantic suspense with likable characters and interesting suspense plot. A few unbelievable plot choices hold it back from being really great, but it's definitely worth reading. I've enjoyed everything I've read by this author so far.
Want to read
January 18, 2013Amazon Freebie 01/18/2013
January 19, 2013
I enjoyed this book. It was sweet, sexy, action packed and I loved the H/h in it. It was a freebie so I was worried it would be a dud but it ended up being a very enjoyable read.
November 9, 2017
This was an okay romantic suspense story, but just didn't win me over. For some reason I just didn't connect with Brylie - sure she was a pretty badass help in taking down the terrorists, but something about her annoyed me and I almost wonder why I even finished the book....
November 24, 2018
I enjoyed the book very much.
Well thought out and kept my interest. What I really wished and needed it to have though was an epilogue. I needed to know that time passed and they worked as a couple, that they were happy.
Well thought out and kept my interest. What I really wished and needed it to have though was an epilogue. I needed to know that time passed and they worked as a couple, that they were happy.
March 8, 2018
Enjoyed reading this. Good characters.
June 3, 2018
Good read..somewhat fun and fast read.
December 17, 2024
Read while on a cruise to Antarctica 😂 actually pretty well written. Enjoyed.
June 10, 2012
I'm not really sure where to begin with this review, because my brain, much like this story, has WAY too much going on to actually process anything...but I'm going to try to muddle through this book review the way I muddled through reading this book.
I agree with an earlier reviewer of this book...the plot seems like a badly written Steven Segal or Jean Claude van Damme movie (except those are pretty much always badly written movies, so suspend disbelief here and say some of them were great, for arguments sake.) Un-trusting, previously burned by some jerk Brylie is a Chef on a small cruise ship that sails the seas close to Antarctica, and Marcus is a debonair, risk-taking poor little rich boy who's family owns the liner. Great, we've established the stereotypes here...oh, and they have a "one night stand" prior to the book's actual timeline. I don't typically like books that leave a good romantic scene out, but I decided to give this book a continued shot after being disappointed a paragraph in.
But I was still disappointed 2 chapters in, then 4, and by the end, I was highly annoyed. Pirates attack and seize the ship (which was foreshadowed so poorly, you automatically knew it was coming up in two pages.) and then detailed the highly unlikely scenario of Marcus and Brylie doing some pretty harrowing and heroic stuff to make sure the boat, and the passengers are safe.
That whole ordeal, told the way M.J. Fredrick did would have made a halfway decent book...but then it gets blown out of the water when (Spoiler alert!!!) another highly unlikely and harrowing situation draws the two unsure love birds together into a Helicopter crash onto the island of Antarctica...
So I wasn't impressed. Here are some other things that caught my attention that may make you want to stay away from this as well.
The first two romantic scenes sound a little bit like lists. Maybe I have been reading too many racy romances lately (No, not Fifty Shades of Twilight...I mean, Gray...)but the scenes don't seem all that fantastic. Part of the draw of this book when I decided to downloads it was that it was a romance. So it has to have sex scenes, that don't sound like the typical, monotonous bed-room romps that don't last very long. I don't need a ridiculous amount of description, but just a little more than the ones provided here. The last sex scene was a little better, had more depth because the author already explored as many tension filled moments on the sea being captives, and being exposed to the elements on an iced-over continent, that they had to go big or go home.
But here's the gods honest truth...I didn't hate the book. Its a fast paced read, there isn't a lot of ancillary characters, except for ones that seem to really influence how Brylie and Marcus as as individuals, which to me, showed great character development...
Truth is, it was suspenseful at times, sometimes laugh out loud funny, and other times I was annoyed. Its an easy, quick read for summer, if you're in the mood for that type of thing. However,if you're looking for the next action book in your life after the stieg larson series of the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo books, this isn't going to be your cup of tea.
I agree with an earlier reviewer of this book...the plot seems like a badly written Steven Segal or Jean Claude van Damme movie (except those are pretty much always badly written movies, so suspend disbelief here and say some of them were great, for arguments sake.) Un-trusting, previously burned by some jerk Brylie is a Chef on a small cruise ship that sails the seas close to Antarctica, and Marcus is a debonair, risk-taking poor little rich boy who's family owns the liner. Great, we've established the stereotypes here...oh, and they have a "one night stand" prior to the book's actual timeline. I don't typically like books that leave a good romantic scene out, but I decided to give this book a continued shot after being disappointed a paragraph in.
But I was still disappointed 2 chapters in, then 4, and by the end, I was highly annoyed. Pirates attack and seize the ship (which was foreshadowed so poorly, you automatically knew it was coming up in two pages.) and then detailed the highly unlikely scenario of Marcus and Brylie doing some pretty harrowing and heroic stuff to make sure the boat, and the passengers are safe.
That whole ordeal, told the way M.J. Fredrick did would have made a halfway decent book...but then it gets blown out of the water when (Spoiler alert!!!) another highly unlikely and harrowing situation draws the two unsure love birds together into a Helicopter crash onto the island of Antarctica...
So I wasn't impressed. Here are some other things that caught my attention that may make you want to stay away from this as well.
The first two romantic scenes sound a little bit like lists. Maybe I have been reading too many racy romances lately (No, not Fifty Shades of Twilight...I mean, Gray...)but the scenes don't seem all that fantastic. Part of the draw of this book when I decided to downloads it was that it was a romance. So it has to have sex scenes, that don't sound like the typical, monotonous bed-room romps that don't last very long. I don't need a ridiculous amount of description, but just a little more than the ones provided here. The last sex scene was a little better, had more depth because the author already explored as many tension filled moments on the sea being captives, and being exposed to the elements on an iced-over continent, that they had to go big or go home.
But here's the gods honest truth...I didn't hate the book. Its a fast paced read, there isn't a lot of ancillary characters, except for ones that seem to really influence how Brylie and Marcus as as individuals, which to me, showed great character development...
Truth is, it was suspenseful at times, sometimes laugh out loud funny, and other times I was annoyed. Its an easy, quick read for summer, if you're in the mood for that type of thing. However,if you're looking for the next action book in your life after the stieg larson series of the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo books, this isn't going to be your cup of tea.
February 1, 2012
Midnight Sun was an unexpected surprise: besides the gripping storyline I was expecting it also delivered a very well developed and beautifully structured romance. I have to applaud M.J. Fredrick for managing to maintain the tension all throughout the story and never letting it fade or become dull. No, that certainly cannot be said of Midnight Sun, which is a thrilling, make-your-pulse-race kind of story!
I think one of the highlights of Midnight Sun is how well M.J. Fredrick developed her characters: they are fleshed out, layered, given enough detail and background history to make them threedimensional real people instead of the cardboard hero/heroine they could have ended up being. Reading about Brylie and Marcus made me feel as if I knew them, and this feeling of closeness to them certainly made me more invested in their story (as my poor nails can testify to that *wink*). I particularly loved Marcus whose character growth I could witness from the first row: we are shown that the scandalous playboy has hidden depths of generosity, courage and integrity, and M.J. Fredrick manages to portray him as a brave hero facing off to pirates without succombing to the great risk of making him sound inhumanly too tough. Marcus remains very much relatable to us ordinary readers, we see his thoughts, his fears and that he definitely does not enjoy playing the hero and being put in such dangerous situations.
The fight scenes were fast paced, fluent and very efficient in increasing my heart rate, and I found it amazing that despite all the craziness and unusual circumstances M.J. Fredrick wrote the blossoming of Marcus and Brylie's relationship with such subtle nuance that you see it evolve gradually under the reader's gaze.
I never considered Antarctica a beautiful and exciting location (thought it too white and cold for that) but M.J Fredrick changed that for me. Her descriptions of the unique location which was both peaceful yet lethal in its remoteness made me see it in a whole new light.
Verdict: If you want to read a thrilling and unique romantic suspense story (come on it has modern day pirates!) set in an unexplored location, with great characterization and a wonderful romance I am sure you will enjoy Midnight Sun. Midnight Sun is an exciting nonstop adrenaline ride with just the necessary pinch of romance to make it the perfect blend of suspense and romance.
Plot: 8/10
Characters: 8/10
Writing: 9/10
Ending: 7/10
Cover: 10/10 - perfection! It is beautiful and suits the story perfectly!
I think one of the highlights of Midnight Sun is how well M.J. Fredrick developed her characters: they are fleshed out, layered, given enough detail and background history to make them threedimensional real people instead of the cardboard hero/heroine they could have ended up being. Reading about Brylie and Marcus made me feel as if I knew them, and this feeling of closeness to them certainly made me more invested in their story (as my poor nails can testify to that *wink*). I particularly loved Marcus whose character growth I could witness from the first row: we are shown that the scandalous playboy has hidden depths of generosity, courage and integrity, and M.J. Fredrick manages to portray him as a brave hero facing off to pirates without succombing to the great risk of making him sound inhumanly too tough. Marcus remains very much relatable to us ordinary readers, we see his thoughts, his fears and that he definitely does not enjoy playing the hero and being put in such dangerous situations.
The fight scenes were fast paced, fluent and very efficient in increasing my heart rate, and I found it amazing that despite all the craziness and unusual circumstances M.J. Fredrick wrote the blossoming of Marcus and Brylie's relationship with such subtle nuance that you see it evolve gradually under the reader's gaze.
I never considered Antarctica a beautiful and exciting location (thought it too white and cold for that) but M.J Fredrick changed that for me. Her descriptions of the unique location which was both peaceful yet lethal in its remoteness made me see it in a whole new light.
Verdict: If you want to read a thrilling and unique romantic suspense story (come on it has modern day pirates!) set in an unexplored location, with great characterization and a wonderful romance I am sure you will enjoy Midnight Sun. Midnight Sun is an exciting nonstop adrenaline ride with just the necessary pinch of romance to make it the perfect blend of suspense and romance.
Plot: 8/10
Characters: 8/10
Writing: 9/10
Ending: 7/10
Cover: 10/10 - perfection! It is beautiful and suits the story perfectly!
May 27, 2012
For a cheesy romance about pirates in Antarctica, this book was better than I expected! ...from a cheesy romance. For a book set in Antarctica, you should look elsewhere if you have any knowledge of the region at all (e.g. you've looked at a map of Antarctica)!
There's enough background to make the characters somewhat realistic, and the romance is reasonably believable (as cheesy romance plots go). The rest of the plot? Yeah, pretty far-fetched, but what were you expecting from a romance novel about pirates in Antarctica?! That premise alone should give you a heads-up about what you're in for. Throw in the quantity of steamy sex scenes required by the genre, and you have a plot that definitely requires suspension of disbelief.
The book almost has two mini plots with the first one ending sooner and more abruptly than you might expect and a second half-baked plot squeezed into the last hundred pages. This didn't work that well for me, and I think that either the second should have been left out and the first expanded to fill the novel or the second needed to be much better developed than it was.
My biggest qualm is that the book is set in such an amazing setting, and the author practically clubs you over the head with the lack of research. There are a few flourishes like the name of a penguin species here or there, but there are some truly unbelievable oversights. The ship sails from Hobart, but the rough seas are briefly attributed to the Drake Passage?! Really? That must be one fast ship and one lousy navigator if they can depart from Tasmania and end up south of Argentina a few days later.
Honestly, without the second mini-plot, the book could have been set just about anywhere. I think it could have held its own just as well, if not better, in the truly pirate-infested waters of the western Indian Ocean. This would also have forced the first part of the book to be fully expanded to fill the novel instead of falling back on the disjointed appendix-plot.
However, in spite of its little flaws, if you're looking for a light-hearted romance with a bit of adventure, you could certainly do far worse! For the most part (i.e. when the book wasn't blatantly wrong about its Antarctic details) it was an enjoyable read.
There's enough background to make the characters somewhat realistic, and the romance is reasonably believable (as cheesy romance plots go). The rest of the plot? Yeah, pretty far-fetched, but what were you expecting from a romance novel about pirates in Antarctica?! That premise alone should give you a heads-up about what you're in for. Throw in the quantity of steamy sex scenes required by the genre, and you have a plot that definitely requires suspension of disbelief.
The book almost has two mini plots with the first one ending sooner and more abruptly than you might expect and a second half-baked plot squeezed into the last hundred pages. This didn't work that well for me, and I think that either the second should have been left out and the first expanded to fill the novel or the second needed to be much better developed than it was.
My biggest qualm is that the book is set in such an amazing setting, and the author practically clubs you over the head with the lack of research. There are a few flourishes like the name of a penguin species here or there, but there are some truly unbelievable oversights. The ship sails from Hobart, but the rough seas are briefly attributed to the Drake Passage?! Really? That must be one fast ship and one lousy navigator if they can depart from Tasmania and end up south of Argentina a few days later.
Honestly, without the second mini-plot, the book could have been set just about anywhere. I think it could have held its own just as well, if not better, in the truly pirate-infested waters of the western Indian Ocean. This would also have forced the first part of the book to be fully expanded to fill the novel instead of falling back on the disjointed appendix-plot.
However, in spite of its little flaws, if you're looking for a light-hearted romance with a bit of adventure, you could certainly do far worse! For the most part (i.e. when the book wasn't blatantly wrong about its Antarctic details) it was an enjoyable read.
March 24, 2016
An ordinary trip Brylie has been taking over the summer each year. Cruising through the waters of Antarctica as a chef is joined by her father, the pilot of the cruise.She never expected to have to avoid the boss of the ship or for the boat to be hostage by certain pilots, but that's exactly what happened that summer. Brylie has made it her rule to not get involved with boys and their charm, but she can't seem to stay away from the charms of a certain snowboarder. After a night of drinking they sleep together and expect to never see each other. But that changes because 28 year old Marcus Devlin is the son’s boss of the ship and is staying there for the whole vacation. Bad boy Marcus Devlin always to end up getting in much trouble and his family is fed up, so boarding his family's cruise ship to lay low for a while seemed to be a good idea until the unexpected happen, pirates attacked and now it's up to him and the head chef to try and save the passengers' lives. His instincts tell him to save her and all the passengers, but what does a bad boy former snowboarder know about saving lives?
If a brewing romance between chef and boss confined within a cruise ship isn't enough for you then multiple action driving scenes should be enough. Keeping you on your toes should be the title of this book because that's exactly what I felt through reading the book. I enjoyed the book and think you will too if you're into romance mixed with action. This book is ideal for mature readers who can handle death and a little steamy action because there are parts in the book where it can get too much. Other than that the book was entertaining and just wished there was a better ending to the book or had the 5 years later chapter. Loving the characters in the book I really wanted to see their life in the years to come. After reading this book, I will look into more books in the similar category, exhilarating, jaw dropping, spine tingling and heart-wrenching. You will want to keep on the cruise because it's a ride you wouldn’t want to end.
If a brewing romance between chef and boss confined within a cruise ship isn't enough for you then multiple action driving scenes should be enough. Keeping you on your toes should be the title of this book because that's exactly what I felt through reading the book. I enjoyed the book and think you will too if you're into romance mixed with action. This book is ideal for mature readers who can handle death and a little steamy action because there are parts in the book where it can get too much. Other than that the book was entertaining and just wished there was a better ending to the book or had the 5 years later chapter. Loving the characters in the book I really wanted to see their life in the years to come. After reading this book, I will look into more books in the similar category, exhilarating, jaw dropping, spine tingling and heart-wrenching. You will want to keep on the cruise because it's a ride you wouldn’t want to end.
October 3, 2014
This is a really interesting contempo romance. There is a lot going on and it definitely keeps things hopping.
The story kicks off with a little walk of shame. Brylie is a complex lady who both owns her sexuality and hides from it. She has a fun sassy streak and makes dishy Playboy Marcus work for her love.
The bedroom door is mostly open but not hugely detailed. They definitely get frisky and steam a few times, but all were appropriately timed. I hate when there is a life or death situation and characters are having sex. None of that here.
This is so much more than a romance though! It is also a thrilling adventure with pirates hijacking the cruise and our leads saving the day! I would have loved more detail on the hijacking a bit more interaction with the pirates.
The story is a mixed narrative going back and forth between the two leads POV. I love this because it makes for a more well rounded romance. It is also a great way to get into their heads and gain perspective on their feelings and motivations.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Erin Mallon. She does a great job with the pace and keeps the action moving. I loved her ladies voices and most of the men. The one exception, and it is kinda major, is the male lead's Australian accent. It was heavy handed and difficult to listen to at times. It would have been so much better with a light touch or no accent at all.
Overall, I enjoyed the book a great deal. There were several times when it felt like the story was wrapping up, when suddenly more tragedy or drama would strike. The end kind of dragged because of these turns. At one point I though my goodness these people have dome bad luck. Still I enjoyed the book and would be interested in seeing it become a series. Perhaps with the BFF Monica getting a HEA next.
Disclosure - I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts, opinions and ratings are my own.
The story kicks off with a little walk of shame. Brylie is a complex lady who both owns her sexuality and hides from it. She has a fun sassy streak and makes dishy Playboy Marcus work for her love.
The bedroom door is mostly open but not hugely detailed. They definitely get frisky and steam a few times, but all were appropriately timed. I hate when there is a life or death situation and characters are having sex. None of that here.
This is so much more than a romance though! It is also a thrilling adventure with pirates hijacking the cruise and our leads saving the day! I would have loved more detail on the hijacking a bit more interaction with the pirates.
The story is a mixed narrative going back and forth between the two leads POV. I love this because it makes for a more well rounded romance. It is also a great way to get into their heads and gain perspective on their feelings and motivations.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Erin Mallon. She does a great job with the pace and keeps the action moving. I loved her ladies voices and most of the men. The one exception, and it is kinda major, is the male lead's Australian accent. It was heavy handed and difficult to listen to at times. It would have been so much better with a light touch or no accent at all.
Overall, I enjoyed the book a great deal. There were several times when it felt like the story was wrapping up, when suddenly more tragedy or drama would strike. The end kind of dragged because of these turns. At one point I though my goodness these people have dome bad luck. Still I enjoyed the book and would be interested in seeing it become a series. Perhaps with the BFF Monica getting a HEA next.
Disclosure - I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts, opinions and ratings are my own.
January 31, 2016
Spoiler Alert!!!!
Brylie ran away from New York after learning her boyfriend was married, and his wife black listed her from being a chef anywhere. She went to work on a cruise ship that her father was that captain. Several years later, the night before the next cruise she gets tires of feeling lonely and has a one night stand. Next day she finds out the guys is Marcus, the youngest son of the cruise ship owner, that is joining them on the cruise. He's been put there to avoid learn the family business and keep out of the press after a skirmish with senator's son in a bar. She tries to avoid him but ends up giving in but the next morning, the ship is taken by pirates. He leads her to safety through the air ducts. The work together taking out a few of the pirates. When their rescue ship is also taken, they are forced to fend for themselves. Hostages and pirates die in the stuggle but they eventually take back the ship. Then hear that the plane that was coming with the ransom money has gone down. Marcus and Brylie take a helicopter to try and rescue the plane crash survivors, including Marcus' older brother. The Helicopter crashes but they survive and huddle down with the survivors to keep warm. Passengers from the ship turn up on snow mobiles, they turned out to be helping the pirates, wanting the ransom. Marcus and Brylie are able to beat them, taking the snowmobiles and eventually are rescued. They get back to the mainland and have one last night together, Marcus decides he's ready for more, buys her a restaurant to keep her nearby but Brylie is still dealing with trust issues. She eventually comes around and they get back together.
Brylie ran away from New York after learning her boyfriend was married, and his wife black listed her from being a chef anywhere. She went to work on a cruise ship that her father was that captain. Several years later, the night before the next cruise she gets tires of feeling lonely and has a one night stand. Next day she finds out the guys is Marcus, the youngest son of the cruise ship owner, that is joining them on the cruise. He's been put there to avoid learn the family business and keep out of the press after a skirmish with senator's son in a bar. She tries to avoid him but ends up giving in but the next morning, the ship is taken by pirates. He leads her to safety through the air ducts. The work together taking out a few of the pirates. When their rescue ship is also taken, they are forced to fend for themselves. Hostages and pirates die in the stuggle but they eventually take back the ship. Then hear that the plane that was coming with the ransom money has gone down. Marcus and Brylie take a helicopter to try and rescue the plane crash survivors, including Marcus' older brother. The Helicopter crashes but they survive and huddle down with the survivors to keep warm. Passengers from the ship turn up on snow mobiles, they turned out to be helping the pirates, wanting the ransom. Marcus and Brylie are able to beat them, taking the snowmobiles and eventually are rescued. They get back to the mainland and have one last night together, Marcus decides he's ready for more, buys her a restaurant to keep her nearby but Brylie is still dealing with trust issues. She eventually comes around and they get back together.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews